Severus finally brought the matter up one evening as he was sitting in Harry's rooms with him sharing tea and conversation. He always found himself coming here for evening tea nowadays. Ever since Albus had left the Castle he'd found himself feeling far more relaxed and even looking for ways to socialize more. Though he still didn't really like most the people in the Castle or enjoy teaching the students their potions. "Potter, what else do you have planned?"
Harry gave him a confused look wondering what he was talking about as they'd been talking about a potion he'd been reading of in one of his specially ordered books. Severus rolled his eyes slightly but explained. "Since you've returned to Hogwarts this year you've handled the school and your most unwelcome detractors very well. Even your rivalry with my Godson has tapered off and died a slow death. Your detractors are finally leaving you alone and getting serious about the education you are subsidizing for them. Which by the way will you be continuing that? The Board would like to know since they will have to arrange to cover I if you aren't. Both students requested to be tested for their actual grade level and have been moved back to being third year students. So Hogwarts is looking at having them as students for four more years after this year ends."
"Yes. I've told my goblin managers to keep their scholarships going until they finish their Newts. They didn't know when they began their schooling here the funds were being drawn off my accounts. I'm not sure they do even now to be honest. But I won't be responsible for adding two more destitute beggars to the streets of Knockturn Alley if there's a way it could be avoided."
Severus blinked. He hadn't considered they might not actually know the source of their scholarships. But it was a very real possibility. Continuing on with his point to Harry he said, "The school is under new leadership and will be improving itself as well in the years to come. New courses of study and more up-to-date past time activities will lead to a much less hostile learning environment which can only mean good things for the future of Britain."
"Maybe you could suggest at the next staff meeting a course be added having to do with cooking and running a restaurant? Ron would be a natural there I think. Maybe he'll even find the one thing he was born to do through it. Any sort of class on how to run a small business is greatly needed here as Arithemancy just doesn't cut it for that."
Severus considered the suggestion for a few minutes letting the conversation lag. those were good suggestions he admitted to himself. How could the magical world grow and prosper if tomorrow's children had no idea how to run their own small businesses? "Good ideas, Mr. Potter. I'll make the suggestions. Anyhow, I'm not saying those weren't good things for you to do. Or that they didn't need to be done. It's very impressive how you went about handling them. But for most this society those are small matters that have very little impact on their daily lives. For the majority of society, those things won't mean much. Especially if they should have to deal with either of the two men trying so desperately to kill you. So I and a few others are wondering what you have planned next. We'd like to get a jump on getting the restorative laid in for the massive number of people coming down with sudden coronaries."
"Nothing Professor. Not for those situations anyway," Harry replied with a laugh.
Severus blinked. "You do realize that just because neither the Dark Lord nor Albus are here in the Castle any longer, that doesn't mean neither is a problem for you, don't you?" he finally asked bluntly.
Harry smiled and Severus shivered. He couldn't help it. There was nothing friendly in that smile. Quietly, Harry informed him. "They aren't a problem any more. Both have been neutralized through their own actions. I don't need to do anything about either one of them any more."
Severus frowned slightly glancing briefly towards his left forearm where Harry knew his dark mark was tattooed on his skin. "I wish I could feel as certain as you seem to Potter. But I know for a fact what Albus said at the end of last year was correct. He is back and he will come after you. Because you defeated him. In his eyes, you stole his honor and his self-bestowed title as the strongest wizard of the age. Albus feels much the same way about you. And for much the same reasons. Both feel you are, have or will steal their place in the history books. Therefore, neither will leave you alone."
Harry nodded. "I know but they have no choice. As I said both have been neutralized by their own actions and choices. The Dark Lord will soon be worm food because of his choice at the end of the Tournament. If you look at that mark he gave you, you'll notice it's getting lighter every day. And Albus made his own mistakes which have already rendered him powerless as well. Don't ask me what those mistakes were. I won't tell you. Just know he won't be bothering me or anybody else ever again."
"The Dark Lord is dying? But… won't he just return again later? I mean, we thought he'd died when you were a baby. But he didn't. I and all the others who followed him knew he wasn't really gone for good back then. I don't want to go back to that situation, Potter. How can you be sure he'll be gone for good this time?" He ignored what Potter had said about Albus to deal with what he'd said about the Dark Lord.